NaruSaku Broken - Chapter 2
Naruto woke to the smell he hated more than anything. He didn't even need to open his eyes and see the white walls and ceiling to know where he was. 'I hate the hospital' he thought. Blinking at the bright light he started sitting up. A sharp pain racked his torso and he collapsed on the bed yelling in pain and clutching his sides.
Naruto groaned in pain as he tried to nurse his broken ribs. He lay there in pain for a few more minutes before the door opened and Tsunade entered. Tsunade looked at the boy with a look of pain and regret. "Hey Kazan" Naruto coughed out offering a weak smile for his would be mother.
"Naruto what in gods name happened to you?" Tsunade looked at him with a raised eyebrow while beginning to heal his body. The woman was taken aback by the damage to his body. He had massive internal damage, from broken bones to battered organs even a punctured kidney. She finished healing his organs and stopped the internal bleeding before looking up to see the hurt on his face.
"Naruto!" Tsunade yelled causing him to jump and look at her. "Oh sorry Kazan I just over did it a little bit training is all" he said with the smile he usually hides behind. The smile so large and heart warming most people don't comprehend how fake it is. Tsunade knew he was lying, but at the same time she knew if he was lying to her he wasn't going to tell anyone. "I can only do that for know" she admitted reluctantly, "Ill finish this tonight." Naruto cringed at pain but nodded in acceptance. "Thank you Kazan!" Tsunade nodded before exiting the door, in the hallway she saw Kakashi leaning against the wall. "We have to talk," he said before leading her into a private room.
To say Tsunade was furious with her student was the understatement of a lifetime. Tsunade couldn't believe Sakura would do this to Naruto. Sakura ran to his room ignoring everything in her path. She opened the door forcefully and yelled his name. However Naruto was not in the room only a very angry Tsunade. "Tsunade-Sama where is Naruto?" Tsunade looked up at her student and Sakura could clearly see the rage in her eyes. "He isn't here Sakura" Tsunade stated bitterly, "he has already left on a mission." Sakura couldn't believe her ears "he is in no shape to be on a mission!" Sakura saw the look Tsunade gave her and instantly regretted saying that.
"Why exactly is he in such bad condition that he shouldn't be in the field Sakura?" Sakura felt her stomach drop as she looked down in shame. Tsunade was far too angry to simply leave it at that and decided to give her apprentice a piece of her mind.
"What was going through your head Sakura? What is it you were thinking as you beat the man who has always treated you better than himself to an inch of his life? Did you find it ironic crying on Naruto's shoulder about your parents, when he has never known the love of a mother or father? Did you honestly think you had it rough when you had the love that he longed for, for 20 years? Did it feel good breaking the man who loves you with your fists? Did it make you feel strong when his ribs cracked? How about when you punctured his organs and he nearly bled out? Or was it the emotional hell you put him through that did it for you. Watching his eyes dull from the realization that the woman he loves will never love him back and she would go so far as to do what you did to him."
Sakura had never cried so hard in her life. Her master was so angry, and she was right 'I am a worthless person.' "You want to know the worst part…" Tsunade was now shaking and shedding tears in her rage. "He still loves you, he lied to me to protect you. He doesn't hold a thing against you; he told me he begged you to beat him. Right now he is out with Shikamaru to try and retrieve your precious Uchiha. He looked at me with those eyes, those dull eyes you gave him with that stupid smile he always wears for you; and he begged me to let him go. Even after you crushed him he only wants you to be happy, even if it's not him he wants you to have love."
Sakura felt like curling up and dying, but she couldn't she had to make things right. "Master I am so sorry, I have no excuse for my actions. I came her to tell Naruto that I was sorry. That I wanted to make it up to him, to tell him I love him. I really do love him, I just wish I realized sooner how much I need him." Tsunade looked at her student and realized her words were sincere. "He will come back to you Sakura and then you can make your heart clear. It takes a lot to break that boy" Tsunade set Sakura a glare. "If you ever do it again you will have to deal with me."
Naruto grunted in pain as he steadied himself on a tree branch. Shikamaru stopped seeing his partner in pain. Naruto clutched his side as he stood back up eyes set in determination and leapt onwards. 'This is for Sakura' Naruto thought as he called to his partner "Shikamaru pick up the pace…We're gaining on him."
---Time Skip---
It has been 3 weeks filled with pain, sorrow, and regret. Yet after 3 weeks Naruto had returned. Sakura was walking to the hospital for work when she heard the news. Forgetting every thing Sakura ran for all she was worth to find him. What Sakura stumbled upon was a sight she was not ready for. There in front of her stood a beaten Saskue being supported by a bloody Naruto, Shikamaru stood by the blonds side with a grin. Sakura couldn't believe her eyes Saskue was back. Her thoughts were interrupted when said ninja called to her. "Sakura-Chan" the Uchiha breathed, "I'm home."
Sakura looked at the man she had chased for so long the man she was so angry with the man who she loved. Saskue spoke to her once again "I will never leave you again, I missed you so much." Saskue stumbled forward from Naruto and embraced the pink haired woman. Sakura was in pure shock; she was too stunned to see the disapproving glance of Tsunade, the way Naruto's jaw was clamped or the lifelessness in his eyes.
Naruto slowly turned and limped away not saying a word about his broken body, right now physical pain didn't faze him, and his heart felt like it still had Saskue's Chidori in it. 'I can't let Sakura-Chan heal me so I guess it will have to heal naturally.' Naruto knew this was how it was, how it had to be; and he would swallow his pain and pride and let them be happy together. Sakura saw Naruto turn away and tried to go after him. Saskue however begged her to take him to the hospital and heal him. Reluctantly she agreed her heart longed for him, she just hoped he could wait a few more hours for her.
Naruto limped his way down the road to his apartment, it took awhile, and a lot of energy out of him. It felt like forever but finally he was face down on his bed. He covered his body in the blankets and as he fought back the tears he let sleep take him. Naruto awoke in the night to the feeling of warm hands running along his body. He knew those hands; he would know her touch anywhere. Naruto opened one eye to see Sakura's hands running along his side green light softly shinning in her palm. Naruto exhaustion was still affecting him and as her hands soothed his hurts he drifted back to sleep. Naruto awoke some time later with the feel of someone running their fingers through his hair. Naruto opened his eyes and saw her, the one girl he was fated to never have. She was holding him and humming a soothing song. Slowly he got up and out of her arms. "Sakura-Chan what are you doing here" Naruto breathed his voice was shaky.
Sakura looked into his eyes and was able to see the dull pain reflected in them. She ran her hand over his healed wounds and smiled "Thanks for waiting for me." Naruto simply sighed, "had to take care of your med-nin duties huh?" Sakura knew she had to apologize he looked so frail. "Naruto-Kun I am so very sorry for how I have treated you. I am sorry for the hurt I must have caused you, for the pain I've put you through physically and emotionally." Sakura began to shed silent tears as she apologized. "I have been horrible to you and I would like to make it up to you by showing you the love I should have all those years ago. What I'm saying is I love you Naruto-Kun…" If only she knew the implications of what she had just told him.
Naruto sat there horrified as Sakura embraced him and shed tears on his shoulder. His heart was officially shattered. In his head he screamed in agony 'Why now, god why now of all times?' On the outside he was numb, 'why now when I can't love you back?' Naruto pulled her from him "Sakura…" Said girl recoiled like she had been struck, there was no warmth in his voice, and the loving familiar Chan was absent. "Naru.." "Get out" he said with such a lack of life it was unnerving. "Naruto-Kun Please I just…" "Go home Sakura." Naruto looked at her with eyes that looked like they had given up. Sakura saw hell in his eyes and she figured he needed space. However the way he just rejected her hurt her so much. 'I wonder if this is how he felt every time I did this?' "Okay I guess ill see you tomorrow Naruto-Kun…" Sakura ran from his apartment tears streaming down her face. 'God I am such and idiot for putting him through all that I hate myself.' Only after Naruto was sure Sakura was gone did he sink to his knees in agony. He clutched his chest as he let out a yell of torment. There he sobbed his chest heaving with the intensity of his pain.
Slowly his door shut and in stepped a dark figure, red eyes gleaming in the darkness. "Thank you for holding true to you word Naruto." Naruto's head snapped upwards, even through the tears the intruder could see the hate and pain on his face. "Get the hell out of my house Teme!" Saskue merely smirked and sat down on his couch. "I only came to talk Naruto, make sure you remember our agreement." Naruto glared at the traitor, "you already stole my life what the fuck else do you want?" Saskue considered him silently for awhile "she is mine now, just remember that." Naruto put his face to the ground and sobbed as Saskue left, he could think of nothing but the promise that would be the death of him.
---Flash Back---
Naruto had been separated from Shikamaru for a good hour while he battled his brother once again. They had worn each other down bit by bit and now they could barely stand. "Come back to the leaf Saskue, please she needs you!" Saskue couldn't deny that a large part of him wanted to do just that. "Make me a promise Naruto." Naruto looked up stunned was he really thinking of coming back? "Promise that if I come back you will give up on Sakura and let me have her. I regret leaving her, and I have every intention of her being the mother of my children."
Naruto was broken; it felt like his heart was trying to split in half. Naruto put his head down in defeat, as long as she was happy he would put himself through hell. "I promise you Saskue… But know this, if you ever hurt her, I will end your life." Naruto fell to his knees as silent tears trickled down his cheeks, 'this is the best way I know how to love you Sakura. I hope he makes you as happy as you deserve.' Slowly the two men walked back to the village meeting up with Shikamaru half way back.
Finally after two days of travel the wounded hero looked up at his village's gate. 'I fulfilled my promise Sakura-Chan, now you can be happy.' Naruto walked in the village right up to the pink haired girl of his dreams. His façade was perfect and as he smiled at her he gave her up to the man leaning against him. It seems fate always had away of pulling Naruto and Sakura apart. So he turned his back as his bastard of a brother took what he loved most, and for her sake he bore the weight on his shoulders. He just wished that it didn't have to break his heart as well.